Michael Young’s lawsuit against UH tossed out by Harris County judge

A Harris County judge has dismissed a lawsuit by Michael Young against the University of Houston because it lacked jurisdiction.

Young, a charter member of UH’s Phi Slama Jama and the director of basketball operations for the men’s program, filed a lawsuit in early July to have his employment contract with the university rescinded. In the lawsuit, Young alleged UH asked him to “engage in the illegal act of accepting money without performing a service and to violate NCAA rules” following his reassignment to a community service role within the athletic department.

The lawsuit was dismissed Monday by Judge Mike D. Miller in Harris County District Court.

“The University of Houston is pleased with the decision by the 11th Judicial District Court to dismiss Michael Young’s lawsuit in its entirety,” the university said in a statement released to the Houston Chronicle. “We believe the court’s ruling is a confirmation that the university’s actions with regard to Michael Young have been appropriate and consistent with applicable law. We do not intend to comment further on this lawsuit.”

Young plans to appeal, his attorney Reginald McKamie said.

“The judge is saying he cannot execute against the state,” McKamie said. “It’s called sovereign immunity. In other words, you can’t sue the state. We believe in Texas law if the state or the school is committing a bad act, there’s an exception where you don’t need permission, that they should be held accountable just like anyone else.”

Young, who had been a university employee the past 16 years, was inducted into the UH Athletics Hall of Honor in 2004 and has his No. 42 jersey retired at Hofheinz Pavilion.